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Freo fans hoping for first AFL premiership

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Melbourne is in the grip of grand final fever, and this year it's been invaded by some very nervous but excited Western Australian fans.

Thousands have travelled across the Nullabor to watch the Fremantle Dockers compete for their first premiership.

The Dockers are the underdogs, up against the dominant Hawthorn Hawks looking for their eleventh flag.

From Melbourne, here's Samantha Donovan.

CROWD (chanting): Fre-o, Fre-o…

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Melbourne is awash with purple.

Thousands of Dockers fans have made the trip across the Nullabor by car or bus, but this die-hard took the easier option and flew in via Brisbane.

FREMANTLE FAN 1: Some people on the plane next to me wanted to go to Brisbane; most were dressed in purple wanting to come to Melbourne. It's an exciting time: we used to dream about winning a game, now we're dreaming about winning a grand final.

FREMANTLE FAN 2: There's more purple in Melbourne than there is in Perth. You can't buy purple in Perth.

FREMANTLE FAN 3: We took a charter last night. We got in at about 11:30, I think it was.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: So you really need to win, don't you!

FREMANTLE FAN 4: Oh we will win (laughs).

FREMANTLE FAN 3: This is 19 years of repressed cheering, we need to get it out right here.

FREMANTLE FAN 4: Good on us, I reckon, and even the people in Melbourne, if they aren't wearing a Hawthorn guernsey, then they're wearing purple.

FREMANTLE FAN 3: Or they at least come up and say good on yous.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Hawks supporters are hoping they'll overcome the disappointment of last year's grand final loss and come out on top.

HAWTHORN FAN: It'll definitely be hard, but I think we're definitely a lot better than last year. A tough challenge, but yeah, confident.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: David Parkin was named a club legend by Hawthorn this year.

He played 211 games for the Hawks, captained its 1971 premiership side, and seven years later coached the team to the flag.

He later coached Carlton to three premierships.

Mr Parkin says there's little to split the Hawks and the Dockers in today's decider, but he thinks wet conditions may make things difficult for Hawthorn.

DAVID PARKIN: Hawthorn rely very much on being able to control the ball. They're the most offensive side - they kick more goals than any other team in the competition. And of course they're playing against the Dockers, which are the best defensive side in the competition, who give you less time and space to do the work that you want to do. So it's a really interesting game today in that we have two absolutely contrasting methods, if you like, or styles of play.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: David Parkin believes it's hard for a team playing its first ever grand final to win.

DAVID PARKIN: History says, in 1991, West Coast played their first final - very excited, same sort of atmosphere and confidence they bought to the game, and they were smashed by Hawthorn.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Is it the nerves in such a big stage for a debutante team?

DAVID PARKIN: Probably, and that being the difference that there are 10 or 11 that were in the Hawthorn side, even though it was back in 2008. I think that's a significant difference in the finish.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Well there are a fair few Fremantle supporters in town, that's for sure. How have you found the descent of the Purple Haze on Melbourne?

DAVID PARKIN: Couldn't believe it - the haze has certainly settled over Melbourne. When I hear the numbers - somebody told me today there are 28 planes have been hired, mainly from the mining industry, to actually fly these hundreds and hundreds of Dockers supporters over. So they'll be a bit like that crew that comes from Port Adelaide, they represent a specific area, I think the Dockers are Fremantle, and Fremantle is a place to be recognised - a bit like Geelong, there aren't many of them left. So you'd expect they'll make themselves well and truly heard today at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground).

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Would a Dockers win be good for the AFL?

DAVID PARKIN: Oh look, I have no doubt in the big picture, I think the AFL, I think they'd be very pleased that another one of the newer fraternities in the game have actually got up. They obviously want Western Sydney and the Gold Coast to do the same, so it is no doubt a good thing for the game.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Hawthorn great David Parkin speaking there to AM's Samantha Donovan.

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